We’re David and Lois McBeath. We live in Point Pleasant, WV – a small town along the Ohio River on the western side of the state. We have 2 sons. Austin is 15. He’s a sophomore at Pt. Pleasant High School. Darrell is almost 12. He’s in the 6th grade at Roosevelt Elementary.
We actually began our adoption journey more than 10 years ago. I saw an ad in the newspaper about Chinese babies. We called about it, but it just wasn’t even feasible at that time in our life. All these years, it was always there, stuck somewhere in the back of our minds. I don't know why exactly – it just was. The thought never completely went away.
We also talked off and on about having another child. Our house was only 3 bedrooms, and we know the boys could have been in a room together, but we didn't want to do that if we didn't have to. In the spring of 2006, for some reason (I don't recall exactly what) - it came up again. We started thinking and talking - why not? So we started checking into it more. We did a lot of research online. The more we found out, the more we felt a calling, a desire and even a need to do this.
We started the adoption and added onto the house all at the same time. It took about 6 months to get the paperwork together. Then about another month after we sent it to China for them to translate it and 'log us in' (11/6/06). That's when we started to officially wait.
We finally got "THE CALL" on 7/13/08. It was a Sunday afternoon! After 2 ½ years, we are finally going to get our baby!


Leila Ann McBeath, formally known as Shun Xi Yi, was born on Oct 29, 2007. She had a cleft lip and cleft palate. The lip has been repaired, but not the palate. (We'll have to do that when we get her home.) She's in the Children's Welfare Institute of Shunde District of Foshan City, which is located in the Guangdong Province, in the southern part of China.

Shunde, the hometown of flowers, is one of four cities under the jurisdiction of Foshan City. Covering an area of 806 sq meters and with a population of 1.05 million, Shunde City is situated in the middle of the fertile Pearl River Delta, between Guangzhou and Hong Kong. It was set up as a county in the 3rd year (1452 AD) of the Jintai reign of the Ming Dynasy (1368-1644), and conferred with the administrative status of a city in 1992 by the State Council.

Foshan City is also where the actor Bruce Lee was from.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Summer - 'Showers'

Leila has been letting her hair grow for awhile now.
She wanted to donate it to kids with cancer.
She got 11 inches cut off.
This was all her idea.
Sometimes she makes me so proud.
She's such a giving child at times.


We have a few new members in our church.
We're so blessed they've decided to join us.
They are active and have some great ideas to get us up and out and going.
We had a painting class in Aug.
Something no one had thought to do, but everyone seemed to enjoy.



Big things are coming.

We had Darrell and Haley's wedding shower.
We made it 'Friends' themed.


Once we were through with the wedding shower, it was time to plan Austin and Casey's baby shower.
Our theme for that was 'Ahoy - It's a Boy'.


I've kept some of baby things from each of the kids.
For Caleb's shower, I dug out Austin's baby clothes.
I copied a picture of Austin wearing each of the outfits and put the clothes and the pictures in a box for them.
I wasn't sure whether to do this or not - turns out it was a fantastic idea.
They loved it, and several people said they either wished they'd thought to do this in the past or they're planning to do it now for the future.


Leila also made the jr high cheer team this year.
Being in the 6th grade, she's still at the elementary school, but can participate in jr high activities.
This also meant getting to be a part of homecoming - dance, parade, etc.

Yes, she's still cheering for GC Starz too.
I foresee a busy fall.
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Girls Trip 2019

Once school ended, we were ready for our 9th annual 'girls trip'.
This was the longest we've ever been gone (10 days), and the most varied trip we've taken.
We went from the seedy French Quarter in New Orleans, to the bayous of Mississippi, to the Gulf Coast of Florida, and then to the mountains of Tennessee.
We were very sad that our 6th member didn't get to go this time (Mandy), due to some unforeseen issues.
While our trip didn't always go as planned - we were flexible.
We still had a great time - we always do.
I'm so grateful for this group of ladies / family and for the opportunities we've been given to be able to do this trip and make these memories each year.

This is just a small sample of the adventures we had and the memories we made.






Playing in the French Quarter




We toured New Orleans and then took a haunted carriage ride.


We went on an airboat ride in the bayou and saw alligators.





Stopped at the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola.


While in Pensacola, we stopped and walked around Ft. Pickens.

After that, we met up and went to dinner with some long-lost friends.
Love these people so much - I just wish David had gotten to see them too.


Destin is such a beautiful place.




Ft. Walton Beach




We stopped and spent a night with Darres and Juanita on the way home.





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Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Spring 2019

Big news was that we found out in April that we're getting a NEW BABY!
Austin and Casey are expecting a baby boy in Nov. His name will be Caleb David.



David left his job with AGFA after 16 years to manage the IT Department at PVH.
We hope and pray he made a good choice.

Easter was pretty much normal for us this year.
Sunrise breakfast, church, lunch, nap.
Mandy, Jessica and I went to an adult egg hunt this year.
That was new.
We didn't win much, but we enjoyed it. More spending time together than anything.





I finally got to use my Christmas present from Austin and Casey.
They got me a gift certificate for an Escape Room.
(It took awhile to coordinate everyone's schedules to go.)
We did 'escape'! I think everyone enjoyed it enough to go again sometime.


May was crazy busy.
We traveled to TN for Leila's final cheer competition of the season.
They did a great job, AND we got to spend time with Darres and Juanita.
Austin also performed on the adult team, and he did super as well.


Volleyball and school both finished up in May too.


Our 'big' thing for May was Darrell's graduation from Marshall.
He completed his Bachelor of Arts in Business Management with minors in Entrepreneurship and Marketing.
He also worked full-time the entire time he was in school.
We're so very proud.

He's currently working at Toyota with Austin.
Having them able to ride together on the way home in the mornings after working midnights - helps ease my mind.

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Wednesday, March 20, 2019

A New Year

2019 started with our New Years Eve party.
We're grateful to have this group of friends to spend time with.

Waiting for the ball to drop

Power Nap


We celebrated New Years again in Feb with our own version of Chinese New Year - at Pizza Hut.


The first part of the year once again brings competition season for Leila's cheer team.
I'm very proud of them, and they're working hard.
But they just don't seem to be achieving the levels they have in the past.
The season isn't over yet though.

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Christmas 2018

Christmas came and went.
Busy and wonderful as always.

School Program


I feel very blessed to have all 'my kids' come and be willing to participate in our holiday activities.

Putting up the Tree


Christmas Sunday


We did something new this year - which I'm sure will become a new tradition.
We played some games on Christmas Eve.



We also took our 2nd annual leggings pic.

(Love these cousins!)


Christmas Eve


These kids made a beautiful wreath for the church for Christmas
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